Alan White

Grumpy I also believe that Telescope House sold them under one of the brands they run. Saw a ABS advert recently by no other Than Es Reid for one of the non Skywatcher Branded ones. That in itself says quite a lot to me, he must have rated it to buy it in the first place. Somehow I think the 'we choose the best of the batch' to be marketing speak for we just buy a big batch.

In the bottom of the page you can switch between Sterling, Euros and US Dollars David. You may have clicked on something by mistake. I don't think it has anything to do with the Big B!

Very nice job indeed, worth all the work by all concerned. Hate to tell you, Toolstation just round the corner to Lakeside!! Motherwell Way RM20 3EH

Those 5" and 6" Achromats look to be great double star scopes in both @Wookie and @cotterless45 hands.

This is drifting into a cooking thread, not What did the Postman Bring 🤣

Does that equate to: I have too many eyepieces??

I agree with John on this David. When buying I like the original box etc. but in reality should only make at most £10 or so reduction in price. You are not really buying the box to use after all. But as said above, it is all in the mind of the buyer and it does sometimes make a sale harder.

Well progress has been made for this Idiot after a guide 😀 The Auzeuner RTL SDR arrived while I was on holiday Progress point 1. But then life (well a death) then got tangled in the way. Yesterday sat down with the USB dongle and plugged in, downloaded the drivers and then nothing, didn't even show as a drive, darn it! Look on the web and find its driver related, loaded some software and reset the USB driver, instantly found. Progress point 2 Have downloaded software to try running the dongle. SDR Console v3, this worked and I can see and play with the dongle. Progress point 3. This may sound stupid to many, but I really have no idea what I am doing and each of these to me is a big step forward. Off to the DIY shed when it opens to buy some pipe for the S@N Aerial build. Hope to start on that later or tomorrow. Keep you posted.......Graves Radio and Meteors, here I come!

As always, you make it all sound wonderful and easy Nick. Clouded last night, so leaving it with fingers crossed for tonight. Made me smile about the occasional foray of Mr Nick to the Eyepiece, sounds like Mrs White here. Were you using your 6" Celestron F8 Achro Nick? If so what mount is it hung upon?

Thank you @JeremyS, I certainly will enjoy it. Observing from home now back on again 😁 still smiling in daylight.

My thought as well John, or it might be a nylon or delrin perhaps. Must be as the bearing surface. I wonder of the capacity has been increased?

It certainly does James. One day I hope to have a complete observatory, but not at this location.

Great one Mark. I too used to wonder why folks made a fuss, then Ed (NGC1502) set me looking. Hooked line and sinker, now always have a look at doubles every time I am out. Those little ST80 are very under rated, I had one as a temporary scope and loved it. It only went in a scope cull to keep the good lady happy.

I use an adjustable old stool for my observing, makes my back far more comfortable and you observe longer. Congratulations on the 200p Skyliner, a very popular scope.

Just for completeness, bought one LED light as pointed towards by @Dr_Ju_ju Julian (thank you). Works great, the red really is red and dimmable. Picture shows at mid brightness, dimms far lower, but my phone refused to focus at that setting.

Power up and running to a double waterproof socket. LED dimmable spot at recommended by others temporary fitted to trial and ascertain best location. Inaugural observing with Dob for a short session last night, wonderful stuff. Looks to have done the business and blocked the obtrusive lights, provided shelter from the breeze and made my life of home observing a pleasure again. Now for a observing bench and then a shed / store housing perhaps. LED at mid brightness for the picture, it goes dimmer, makes setting up in the now darker location easier. In dimmest setting I can read star charts etc well. In reality it's not this bright, the camera has made it look brighter. The words above do not describe how this has made me feel, I cannot find the words at present to express my utter joy at getting my hobby back!!

That sack barrow puts the size of the ODK into perspective, unless of course it's an Action Man sized trolley!

Thanks folks, much appreciated, I have purchased the light type linked by Julian and it looks good on unpacking, I will have to get the power done and light fitted over the weekend, wonderful stuff. Again thanks.

Hi Chris Yes same club as Ed (NGC 1502), that mount does indeed look a great basis for a future set up. Happy you like it and the free Gym Membership 😁 I take it that you have now moved to a new abode? So nice to see you have a scope in your sig line again.

Aha, I think I know you have been in my neck of the woods Mr L and seen Jim?

Had a quick look from the new screened observing area with the binoculars, report that the pad screening blocks all the stay lights from houses each side. Sadly does not clear the cloud and as it’s back to work in the morning after 2 weeks off just a quick test between cloud. Short session bringing big smiles all the same.

I wish to pick the collective brains of SGL please. My observing pad, now darkening my observing areas, see my thread in DIY Observatories, leaves me with the perverse problem of now being too dark to sort out kit before and after use. So looking for an exterior Red Light solution that is dimmable, what have you fine folks done outside? Yes I can use a torch but looking for a better fixed way of doing it, I have mains power available at the pad.

Back from 2 weeks in Devon, well mostly Devon as we had a death in the extended family while away. I started by mowing around the observing area, which has ended with an expensive crunch from the mower! Hit a metal spike lurking in weeds, didn't know it was in place, would have missed it if I knew, mower nil, post 1 engine crankshaft - expensive this astronomy 😭 On a better note, gave me far more time to get the hedge moved and planted around the new fence and the SWA cable moved to the correct position. So some good comes from an ill wind. Now for the electrical work and construction of a work area in the corner. And to start looking at a pier for next summer's build. And buy Mrs W lots of flowers, yes lots of flowers and work on the charm for the shed.....

The post person also brought a bit of kit that I have no idea how to use, but something to learn with. I am hoping to have ago at radio detection using Graves Radio on Meteors. Have to make or buy an aerial, get some software and make this work.....what could go wrong!

Having just got back from Holiday yesterday I have waded through the bills, post and goodies. Purchased from ENS Japan Made ND13 Moon Filter 1 1/4. Just to see a bit more contrast once in a while.